Sony Pictures Classics Buys The Gatekeepers

Sony Pictures Classics has announced the acquisition of all North American rights to the documentary “The Gatekeepers” by Dror Moreh (“Sharon”). The film, a co-production between DMP Les Films du Poisson and Cinephil, is produced by Dror Moreh, Estelle Fialon and Philippa Kowarsky. The film recently premiered at the Jerusalem International Film Festival.

The deal was negotiated with Sony Pictures Classics by Philippa Kowarsky, on behalf of Cinephil Sales.

For the first time ever, six former heads of Israel’s domestic secret service agency, the Shin Bet, share their insights and reflect publicly on their actions and decisions. Since the Six Day War in 1967, Israel has failed to transform its crushing military victory into a lasting peace.

Throughout that entire period, these heads of the Shin Bet stood at the center of Israel’s decision-making process in all matters pertaining to security. They worked closely with every Israeli prime minister, and their assessments and insights had — and continue to have — a profound impact on Israeli policy. “The Gatekeepers” offers an exclusive account of the sum of their successes and failures. In the process it sheds light on the controversy surrounding the Occupation in the aftermath of the Six Day War.

Moreh said, “I was startled but thrilled when six former heads of the Shin Bet (‘The Gatekeepers’) agreed to discuss their careers openly on camera for the very first time. This gave me a unique and intimate opportunity to enter the inner sanctum of Israel’s security decision-makers for almost half a century. Numerous times during the making of this film, I found myself overwhelmed by their stories and testimonies. I kept asking myself how far I would have gone when confronting the same life or death dilemmas. I still do.”